Recirculating flush toilet

ABSTRACT

A recirculating flush-type chemical field toilet which provides for improved appearance and removes the tendency of one not properly utilizing the toilet. The toilet of the present invention utilizes a bowl positioned in alignment with the seat opening, which bowl may be flushed by a foot-operated flushing mechanism. The toilet is so constructed that its use is not impaired by damage or freezing of the flush mechanism since the bowl is mounted to be readily movable to an out-of-the-way position permitting easy service of the unit as well as use in the event of damage. The flushing mechanism is designed to be readily serviced.

United States Patent De Vries et al.

1 Jan. 21, 1975 4] RECIRCULATING FLUSH TOILET 3,570,018 3/1971 Sargeant et al. 4/115 [75] Inventors: Jonathan W. De Vries, Inver Grove FOREIGN PATENTS ()R APPLICATIONS gg ts gg g -3:3" Brooklyn 606,402 7/1960 ltaly 4/115 Bloommgton of Primary Examinerl-lenry K. Artis [73] Assignee: Satellite Industries, Inc., Assistant ExaminerJames E. Bryant, [11

Minneapolis, Minn. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John C. Barnes [22] Filed: July 5, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 376,398 [57] ABSTRACT A recirculating flush-type chemical field toilet which provides for improved appearance and removes the 3 tendency of one not properly utilizing the toilet. The [58] Fie'ld 4,115 H6 78 79 toilet of the present invention utilizes a bowl posi M80 77 92 b 1 tioned in alignment with the seat opening, which bowl may be flushed by a foot-operated flushing mechanism. The toilet is so constructed that its use is not impaired by damage or freezing of the flush mechanism [56] References Cited since the bowl is mounted to be readily movable to an UNITED STATES PATENTS out-of-the-way position permitting easy service of the 1,757,684 5/1930 Ptisterer et a1. 4/78 unit as well as use in the event of damage. The flushing mechanism is designed to be readily serviced. O1 155 3,289,214 12/1966 Corliss 4/115 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENIE mm ms RECIRCULATING FLUSH TOILET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improvement in chemical toilets and in one aspect to an improvement in a flushtype recirculating field toilet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The prior art discloses chemical toilets wherein the toilet is provided with means for creating a flushing action similar to the normal operation of a toilet with standard plumbing. Therefore, the concept of providing a chemical recirculating toilet is not a novel concept, but, in the prior art devices considerable difficulty is experienced in maintaining the chemical toilet in a pleasant appearing and usable condition. These prob lems stem from numerous features of the prior known field toilets. For example, the use of a hand-operated rotary pump such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,005,993, is not particularly desired by the user in an area where washing facilities for the hands is not available. Secondly, should the pump, whether electric or handoperated, become frozen, the known constructions do not provide for a user to be able to move the unflushable bowl away from the position aligned with the seat, such that the unit is usable in the unrepaired condition.

The field toilet of the present invention is designed to permit easy serviceability of the toilet. The movable toilet bowl of the present invention permits the pump ing and refilling of the tank through the seat opening and it also permits the flush unit to be readily removed through the seat opening and a new one easily installed should the unit become frozen or unworkable for other reasons. The toilet unit of the present invention is provided with a foot-operated flushing mechanism which is designed to be easily operated, accessible for repair and cleaning and such that excessive force or abuse to the operating mechanism will not be transferred directly to the other moving parts. A spring means connected between the member engaged by the foot and the member engaging the pump transfers the actuating force to the pump.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an improved recirculating flush-type chemical toilet which is adapted to be used in a portable toilet building in a field condition. The toilet of the present invention comprises a frame including a rectangular cover member having an opening and a seat hinged adjacent the opening. A tank fits within the frame and is covered by the frame cover. Slidably supported beneath the opening of the cover is a toilet bowl. At one end of the frame and between the tank and the frame is supported a foot-operated mechanism for driving a pump. The foot-operated mechanism operates, through means of a spring, a reciprocating pump which will circulate fluid filtered from in the tank into the toilet bowl to flush the same. The filter is designed in such a way that it is inexpensive, easily cleaned, and reduces clogging such that it has unlimited use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The present invention will be more fully understood after reading the following detailed description which refers to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view ofa toilet constructed in accordance with the present invention with parts broken away to show interior members;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along the lines 33 of FIG; 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately along the lines 44 of FIG. I with parts broken away to show hidden members;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of one of the filter plates; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of several of the filter plates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated a tank and frame adapted for installation across the rear wall of a portable toilet building. The illustrated construction is a recirculating flush-type chemical toilet generally comprising a frame consisting of a rectangular bench or cover 10, which covers a rectangular box having a front wall 11, a rear wall 12, and end walls 13 and 14. The frame can include a bottom wall 15 or be the floor of the building which supports a rectangular tank 16 having an open top, a bottom, and vertical side and end walls. One end 17 of the tank 16 is spaced from the end wall 14 to permit the insertion within the frame of an operating mechanism for a pump which recirculates the chemical.

In the cover 10 and positioned toward one end is an opening 18 and hinged to the cover 10 is a toilet seat 20. Supported beneath the cover 10 are a pair of parallel rails 21 and 22. These rails are also parallel to the front wall and are positioned one on each side of the opening 18, and are formed with a lower flange to receive the flange formed around the upper edge ofa toilet bowl 25.

The toilet bowl 25 has generally a bowl shape and slopes at the bottom toward one side where it is formed in that side with a discharge opening 26. The bowl is slidable on its flange along the rails 21 and 22 to the left of the opening 18 in the cover 10 to provide access through the opening into the tank 16 for the purpose of flushing and refilling the tank, servicing the pump for the recirculation system, and to permit a user to move the bowl from an aligned position beneath the opening in the event that the flush system associated with this toilet should fail to function because of freezing or some mechanical failure.

The flushing of the toilet bowl 25 is provided by a foot-operated positive displacement pump positioned adjacent the end wall 14 of the frame. The operator actuates the pump to discharge fluid into the toilet bowl. As shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 4 the footoperator for the flush unit comprises a bar forming a pedal 28 pivotally mounted on a pin 29 which pin extends through a support member 30 fixed to the frame. The pedal 28 is biased to an upper position in a slot 31 in the front wall 11 by a spring 32. The spring 32 is fastened between the pedal 28 and a bracket 33 on the front wall 11. Also pivoted on the pin 29 is an operator in the form of a vertical bar 35. The vertical bar 35 is connected to the pedal 28 through a tension spring 36 connected between the pedal 28 and the bar 35. Alternatively, the pedal 28 may be a resilient bar connected at one end to the bar 35. The flexure of the bar will protect the pump against direct pressure from the foot, the same as is accomplished by the spring 36, and will drive the pump upon depression of the pedal against the bias of spring 32. The bar 35 is provided with a stop member 38 which is positioned to engage the upper surface of the pedal 28 to limit the travel of the bar 35 in the direction toward the pedal 28 and to transfer the force of spring 32 to the piston to retract the piston on the pump to be later described. At the top of the bar 35 is an inverted U-shaped bend permitting the bar to extend over the end wall 17 of the tank 16 and terminates in an end 39 extending toward the center of the cover 10.

The flushing unit comprises a positive displacement reciprocating pump 40 adapted to draw fluid from the tank 16 through a filter into the pump to have it discharged from the pump into the bowl 25. The pump 40 comprises a cylindrical member in which is mounted a reciprocating piston having a reciprocating drive rod 41. The rod 41 has the piston on one end and an eye on the other end which receives the end 39 of the bar 35. The piston moves between the ends of the cylinder and the cylinder is formed with supporting plates 42 and 43, which plates are slidably received in a U- shaped support plate member 44 secured to the cover 10. At the discharge end of the cylinder is connected a tee 45 which connects to one end of the cylinder and connects to an intake hose 46 and to a discharge nozzle 48. The discharge nozzle 48 is positioned in the upper portion of the toilet bowl 25 and comprises a cylinder having a closed end and a slot 49 in the lower portion of the cylinder wall to direct the fluid toward the sides and bottom of the toilet bowl 25 toward the opening 26. In the tee 45 is a pair of one-way check valves in the form of flap valves 50 and 51. The valve 50 permits fluid to be drawn into the cylinder of the pump as the piston is drawn toward the rear wall of the frame and the flap valve 51 is held closed by the vacuum. The valve 50 is held closed by the pressure of the fluid when the piston is moved in the opposite direction and the valve 51 opens to permit the fluid to be discharged into the nozzle 48.

The inlet hose 46 terminates at a filter 52 including a cylindrical hollow rod 47 which is formed with longitudinally extending slots. Around the rod 47 is positioned a plurality of molded or machined polymeric filter plates 56 which have a plurality (three) spaced separating projections of pyramid or tetrahedron shape on each surface of the plates. The plates 56 are rectangular, preferably square, in shape and are formed with a central opening 57 to receive the rod 47. The plates are 0.032 to 0.125 inch thick and the projections have a height of between about 0.010 and 0.040 inch. The plates 56 are positioned at random around the axis of the rod 47 such that it is not of a generally rectangular configuration.

In operation, the toilet bowl 26 may be flushed after use by the operator pressing on the exposed end of the pedal 28 which extends through the slotted opening 31 in the front wall 11. This will cause the spring 36 to drive the operator 35 and piston in the pump 40 toward the discharge end forcing fluid within the cylinder into the tee 45 and through valve 51 into the discharge nozzle 48. The liquid will discharge through the slot 49 into the bowl with sufficient force to wash the same and discharging contents therein through opening 26 into the chemical reservoir or tank 16. The spring 32 returns the pedal 28 to the raised position, and through stop 38 and bar 35 the piston is returned filling the cylinder. When service or maintenance ofthe pump is necessary, the bowl 25 may be moved along its supporting rails 21 and 22 to an out-of-the-way position beneath the cover 10 such that the operator has access to the tank for hoses to remove the contents therefrom and access is also provided to the pump 40 and inlet hose 46 such that the same may be withdrawn by grasping the pump and pulling the same toward the opening 18 out of the support member 44 and off the end 39 of bar 35.

The filter 52 on the inlet hose 46 is so constructed that it is easily washed and rinsed during servicing and because of its shape, due to the corners of the plates 56 and the spacing between the plates, it is substantially clog-free and easily serviced in that a clamp 59 on the lower end of the rod permits the plates 56 to be moved along the rod 47 and separated for rinsing during service.

Having thus described the invention with respect to a preferred embodiment, what is claimed is:

1. A chemical flush toilet comprising a rectangular tank having an open top which tank is adapted to receive a supply of fluid,

a cover supported across said open top, said cover having an access opening and a pair of rails supported inside the cover and disposed one on each side of said opening,

a toilet bowl supported on said rails and movable thereon between a first position aligned with said opening and a second position under said cover to one side of said opening,

support means slidably supporting pump means inside said cover adjacent to said opening, said pump means having discharge nozzle means positioned in said bowl when the same is in the first position aligned with said opening,

operable means adjacent one end of said tank for operating said pump means, said operable means comprising bar means pivotally mounted adjacent said one end of said tank, an operator connected to said pump means, and spring means connecting said bar means to said operator for transferring operating force therebetween for pumping fluid from said pump means through said nozzle means to flush said bowl, and

return means for said bar and pump means to charge said pump means.

2. A toilet according to claim 1 wherein said pump means comprises a reciprocating pump having a cylinder and piston, an inlet tube adapted to have one end positioned in said tank and the other end connected to said pump to permit fluid to enter said pump upon movement of said piston toward one end of said cylin- I der, and valve means affording the discharge of said fluid through said nozzle means upon said piston moving toward the other end of said cylinder.

3. A toilet according to claim 2 wherein said one end of said inlet tube has a filter positioned thereon.

4. A toilet according to claim 3 wherein said filter comprises a hollow tube with a longitudinal slot, a plurality of rectangular plates formed with an opening therethrough, each side of each of said plates having spaced projections, said plates being positioned on said tube with the projections on the plates engaging the smooth surface of the next adjacent plate to define thin flow paths to the tube.

5. A toilet according to claim 1 wherein said bar means comprises a pivotally mounted pedal and said return means includes means for biasing said pedal to a raised position, and stop means positioned between said pedal and said operator for transferring a force from said pedal to said operator when said pedal is moved by said biasing means to said raised position to charge said pump means.

6. A toilet according to claim 1 wherein said pump means comprises a hollow cylinder having end walls, a reciprocating piston in said cylinder having a rod connected thereto and extending through one end wall, and a tee connected to the other said end wall, said tee having vavle means permitting fluid to be drawn into said cylinder through one branch and to be forced out through the other branch, and said operator is slidably connected to said rod to positively reciprocate the piston in said cylinder, and said bar means comprises an oscillating pedal biased to a raised position, and said spring means are connected between said pedal and said operator to drive said piston toward said other end wall upon movement of said pedal against its bias.

7. A filter for friable material comprising a hollow tube having at least one slot formed in the wall thereof,

a plurality of rectangular plates having spaced projections on each surface of said plates, said plates being positioned on said tube with the projections on the plates engaging the smooth surface of the next adjacent plate to space the plates, and

means for holding the plates together and for closing one end of said tube 8. A filter according to claim 7 wherein said plates have a thickness of0.032 to 0,125 inch and said projections have a height from the surface of the plate of between about 0.010 and 0.040 inch.

9. A filter according to claim 7 wherein said plates have three projections on each surface. 

1. A chemical flush toilet comprising a rectangular tank having an open top which tank is adapted to receive a supply of fluid, a cover supported across said open top, said cover having an access opening and a pair of rails supported inside the cover and disposed one on each side of said opening, a toilet bowl supported on said rails and movable thereon between a first position aligned with said opening and a second position under said cover to one side of said opening, support means slidably supporting pump means inside said cover adjacent to said opening, said pump means having discharge nozzle means positioned in said bowl when the same is in the first position aligned with said opening, operable means adjacent one end of said tank for operating said pump means, said operable means comprising bar means pivotally mounted adjacent said one end of said tank, an operator connected to said pump means, and spring means connecting said bar means to said operator for transferring operating force therebetween for pumping fluid from said pump means through said nozzle means to flush said bowl, and return means for said bar and pump means to charge said pump means.
 2. A toilet according to claim 1 wherein said pump means comprises a reciprocating pump having a cylinder and piston, an inlet tube adapted to have one end positioned in said tank and the other end connected to said pump to permit fluid to enter said pump upon movement of said piston toward one end of said cylinder, and valve means affording the discharge of said fluid through said nozzle means upon said piston moving toward the other end of said cylinder.
 3. A toilet according to claim 2 wherein said one end of said inlet tube has a filter positioned thereon.
 4. A toilet according to claim 3 wherein said filter comprises a hollow tube with a longitudinal slot, a plurality of rectangular plates formed with an opening therethrough, each side of each of said plates having spaced projections, said plates being positioned on said tube with the projections on the plates engaging the smooth surface of the next adjacent plate to define thin flow paths to the tube.
 5. A toilet according to claim 1 wherein said bar means comprises a pivotally mounted pedal and said return means includes means for biasing said pedal to a raised position, and stop means positioned between said pedal and said operator for transferring a force from said pedal to said operator when said pedal is moved by said biasing means to said raised position to charge said pump means.
 6. A toilet according to claim 1 wherein said pump means comprises a hollow cylinder having end walls, a reciprocating piston in said cylinder having a rod connected thereto and extending through one end wall, and a tee connected to the other said end wall, said tee having vavle means permitting fluid to be drawn into said cylinder through one branch and to be forced out through the other branch, and said operator is slidably connected to said rod to positively reciprocate the piston in said cylinder, and said bar means comprises an oscillating pedal biased to a raised position, and said spring means are connected between said pedal and said operator to drive said piston toward said other end wall upon movement of said pedal against its bias.
 7. A filter for friable material comprising a hollow tube having at least one slot formed in the wall thereof, a plurality of rectangular plates having spaced projections on each surfAce of said plates, said plates being positioned on said tube with the projections on the plates engaging the smooth surface of the next adjacent plate to space the plates, and means for holding the plates together and for closing one end of said tube.
 8. A filter according to claim 7 wherein said plates have a thickness of 0.032 to 0.125 inch and said projections have a height from the surface of the plate of between about 0.010 and 0.040 inch.
 9. A filter according to claim 7 wherein said plates have three projections on each surface. 